Monday, March 31, 2008

Opening day

It's 39 degrees and drizzling in Chelmsford, Massachusetts this morning but it feels like summer as the long awaited opening day is here. I know the season started last Tuesday in Japan for the Athletics and Red Sox but, even for many Boston and Oakland fans, it didn't feel much like opening day. Not with the games at 6 AM in the morning and not with knowledge that everyone else was still in spring training and that the Athletics and Red Sox would return to spring training a couple of days later. Now the season is starting for real and the next seven months will be a pleasure to follow regardless of the outcome.

The Tigers open up against the Royals today at 1:00 PM. The forecast calls for temperatures in the 50s and cloudy skies with some showers later in the afternoon. It looks as if they'll be able to get the game in before the heavier stuff comes though. It will be Justin Verlander versus Gil Meche. These are the line-ups: